Using LiDAR and quickbird data to model plant production and quantify uncertainties associated with wetland detection and land cover generalizations

Spatiotemporal data from satellite remote sensing and surface meteorology networks have made it possible to continuously monitor global plant production, and to identify global trends associated with land cover/use and climate change. Gross primary production (GPP) and net primary production (NPP) are routinely derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard satellites Terra and Aqua, and estimates generally agree with independent measurements at validation sites across the globe. However, the accuracy of GPP and NPP estimates in some regions may be limited by the quality of model input variables and heterogeneity at fine spatial scales. We developed new methods for deriving model inputs (i.e., land cover, leaf area, and photosynthetically active radiation absorbed by plant canopies) from airborne laser altimetry (LiDAR) and Quickbird multispectral data at resolutions ranging from about 30 m to 1 km. In addition, LiDAR-derived biomass was used as a means for computing carbon-use efficiency. Spatial variables were used with temporal data from ground-based monitoring stations to compute a six-year GPP and NPP time series for a 3600 ha study site in the Great Lakes region of North America. Model results compared favorably with independent observations from a 400 m flux tower and a process-based ecosystem model (BIOME-BGC), but only after removing vapor pressure deficit as a constraint on photosynthesis from the MODIS global algorithm. Fine-resolution inputs captured more of the spatial variability, but estimates were similar to coarse-resolution data when integrated across the entire landscape. Failure to account for wetlands had little impact on landscape-scale estimates, because vegetation structure, composition, and conversion efficiencies were similar to upland plant communities. Plant productivity estimates were noticeably improved using LiDAR-derived variables, while uncertainties associated with land cover generalizations and wetlands in this largely forested landscape were considered less important.     

Radiance temperatures (at 658 and 898 nm) of niobium at its melting point

Radiance temperatures (at 658 and 898 nm) of niobium at its melting point were measured by a pulse-heating technique. A current pulse of subsecond duration was imparted to a niobium strip and the initial part of the melting plateau was measured by high-speed pyrometry. Experiments were performed with two techniques and the results do not indicate any dependence of radiance temperature (at the melting point) on initial surface or system operational conditions. The average radiance temperature at the melting point of niobium is 2420 K at 658 nm and 2288 K at 898 nm, with a standard deviation of 0.4 K at 658 nm and 0.3–0.6 K at 898 nm (depending on the technique used). The total uncertainty in radiance temperature is estimated to be not more than ±6 K. The results are in good agreement with earlier measurements at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (USA) and confirm that both radiance temperature and normal spectral emissivity (of niobium at its melting point) decrease with increasing wavelength in the region 500–900 nm.Paper presented at the Third Workshop on Subsecond Thermophysics, September 17–18, 1992, Graz, Austria.     

Study of Thermal Radiation Properties of Pyrolytic Carbon Protective Coatings for Monocrystalline Silicon Furnace

The thermal radiation properties of pyrolytic carbon （PyC） protective coatings for monocrystalline silicon furnace prepared by different processes were tested. The changes of normal emissivity of carbon materials caused by PyC protective coatings were discussed, and the influence of phase structure and surface appearance on the thermal radiation properties was investigated. The results show that the thermal radiation properties of PyC protective coatings with the wave band of 5 -25 I~m are better than C/C substrate, further, normal spectral emissivity of CVD PyC coating remains basically at 0. 85 - 0. 90, and the normal total emissivity can reach 0. 89, which shows high thermal radiation performance. For resin PyC coating and CVD PyC coating, the degree of graphitization are 44. 53% and 16. 28% respectively, and the R value of Raman spectrum are 0. g64 and 1. 384 respectively. Relatively disorder graphite structure of the latter causes various vibration modes, and the spectral emissivity is better, so the thermal radiation property of CVD PyC coating is excellent. A lot of spherical particles exists on the surface of the CVD PyC coating, and the more interface and spacing of particles reduce the number of particles per unit volume. Therefore, the scattering of thermal radiation is strongly strengthened, and the spectral emissivity is higher.     

TM热红外波段等效比辐射率估算

地表比辐射率是热红外遥感获取地表温度必不可少的参数。目前,实验室或野外实际测量的都是8~14um热红外波段范围内的地表比辐射率,这与Landsat 5 TM热红外波段10.4~12.5um范围内的地表比辐射率还存在着一定的差异。本文将着重探讨TM热红外范围内地表比辐射率的估算方法,然后根据估算出的地表比辐射率,利用覃志豪等提出的单窗算法[1~2],对北京城八区进行地表温度反演。结果表明,该方法能获得较为合理的地表温度反演结果。     

高温抗渗碳耐腐蚀红外辐射釉料的研制

高温抗渗碳红外釉料是一种非晶态结构的高温、抗渗碳、耐腐蚀的新型红外辐射材料。阐述了它的研制与制备工艺，试验了各种因素对其性能的影响。试验表明，红外釉层抗渗碳、耐腐蚀及机械强度等性能大大优于一般红外辐射涂层。     

Emissivity Measurements on Metallic Surfaces with Various Degrees of Roughness: A Comparison of Laser Polarimetry and Integrating Sphere Reflectometry

Both integrating sphere reflectometry (ISR) as well as laser polarimetry have their advantages and limitations in their ability to determine the normal spectral emissivity of metallic samples. Laser polarimetry has been used for years to obtain normal spectral emissivity measurements on pulse-heated materials. The method is based on the Fresnel equations, which describe reflection and refraction at an ideally smooth interface between two isotropic media. However, polarimetry is frequently used with surfaces that clearly deviate from this ideal condition. Questions arise with respect to the applicability of the simple Fresnel equations to non-specular surfaces. On the other hand, reflectometry utilizing integrating spheres provides a measurement of the hemispherical spectral reflectance, from which the normal spectral emissivity can be derived. ISR provides data on spectral-normal-hemispherical reflectance and, hence, normal spectral emissivity for a variety of surfaces. However, the resulting errors are minimal when both the sample and the reference have a similar bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF). In an effort to explore the limits of polarimetry in terms of surface roughness, room temperature measurements on the same samples with various degrees of roughness were performed using both ISR and a laser polarimeter. In this paper the two methods are briefly described and the results of the comparison are discussed.     

Investigation of Functional Hemispheric Asymmetry of Language in Tinnitus Sufferers.

The authors tested functional hemispheric asymmetry through word dichotic listening and lateralized lexical decision tasks in tinnitus patients and controls stimulated by a continuous tinnitus-like noise to test the influence of a tinnitus-like external stimulation. A classic right-ear advantage was shown in the auditory task for all but right-ear tinnitus patients, who performed as equally badly when the stimuli were presented to the right and left ears. Concerning the visual task, all participants demonstrated the expected right visual field advantage for word stimuli. Moreover, those who submitted to external stimulation demonstrated normal asymmetric patterns. These data suggest a specific effect of tinnitus on central processing and provide evidence for a functional reorganization induced by this auditory phantom perception. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of land surface emissivity and radiometric temperature derived from MODIS and ASTER sensors

This study compared surface emissivity and radiometric temperature retrievals derived from data collected with the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) sensors, onboard the NASA's Earth Observation System (EOS)-TERRA satellite. Two study sites were selected: a semi-arid area located in northern Chihuahuan desert, USA, and a Savannah landscape located in central Africa. Atmospheric corrections were performed using the MODTRAN 4 atmospheric radiative transfer code along with atmospheric profiles generated by the National Center for Environmental Predictions (NCEP). Atmospheric radiative properties were derived from MODTRAN 4 calculations according to the sensor swaths, which yielded different strategies from one sensor to the other. The MODIS estimates were then computed using a designed Temperature-Independent Spectral Indices of Emissivity (TISIE) method. The ASTER estimates were derived using the Temperature Emissivity Separation (TES) algorithm. The MODIS and ASTER radiometric temperature retrievals were in good agreement when the atmospheric corrections were similar, with differences lower than 0.9 K. The emissivity estimates were compared for MODIS/ASTER matching bands at 8.5 and 11 μm. It was shown that the retrievals agreed well, with RMSD ranging from 0.005 to 0.015, and biases ranging from −0.01 to 0.005. At 8.5 μm, the ranges of emissivities from both sensors were very similar. At 11 μm, however, the ranges of MODIS values were broader than those of the ASTER estimates. The larger MODIS values were ascribed to the gray body problem of the TES algorithm, whereas the lower MODIS values were not consistent with field references. Finally, we assessed the combined effects of spatial variability and sensor resolution. It was shown that for the study areas we considered, these effects were not critical.     

Experimental investigation on surface radiation properties’ degradation of solar collector receiver tube material

In this study, we have investigated the degradation characteristics of surface radiation heat transfer properties of stainless steel 304. The emissivity (ε) and absorptivity (α) of stainless steel has been measured for a surface unexposed to sunlight and that exposed to sunlight for various time intervals (240, 480, 720, and 960?h). The temperature dependence of these properties is also measured for the temperature range of 30–300°C at 10 equal intervals. It is observed that the emissivity of the material increased when it is exposed to sunlight and the temperature dependence is very strong beyond 180°C. The absorptivity of the material increases first and then starts to decrease with exposure time. The combined effect of decrease in absorptivity and increase in emissivity leads to reduction in aS/E ratio, which results in a higher rate of radiation loss for exposed surfaces when compared to that for the unexposed surfaces.